Within Warner’s Regiment (re-created) there are several types of portrayals & tiers of participation, all of which have a place in the Regiment. Members can be involved at one or more of the levels as he or she chooses. Impressions are primarily divided into two categories: Combatants & Distaff (civilian or camp-follower). Within each category there are several tiers of participation.
Combatants
Regulars represent the Officers, NCO’s and rank & file soldiers enlisted in the original Regiment. Regulars follow the training & are expected to have the discipline of an organized military unit. The training, tactics, uniform, and accoutrements are based upon existing warrants, orderly books, & training manuals from 1770-1790.Militia Augmentees represent civilians called to duty by the militia laws requiring all able bodied men (usually between 16 and 60) to act as citizen soldiers for their community in times of crisis. Militia soldiers were enlisted to fight for limited periods of time & were not usually supplied with arms or uniforms, Militia augmentees typically fielded with what clothing & accoutrements they possessed. Nonetheless, they often fought alongside regular troops. Warner’s Regiment was supplemented by militia several times during its history, most notably at the Battle of Hubbardton; however it is unclear if the militia were organized companies or large numbers of unorganized individuals. We currently absorb militia augmentees into the regular line as individuals, but will consider standing militia companies when the numbers allow.
It is a common misconception that militia unit were largely untrained. It is true that militia unit were not as comprehensively trained as regular Continental Army Regiments, but many period journals recount how tenaciously Vermont citizen soldiers fought in the battles of Hubbardton & Bennington. The Regiment expects militia augmentees to train alongside the Regulars at events and be familiar with regimental training & field maneuvers.
Non-Combatants
Camp followers represent the spouses & children of soldiers, local townsfolk, or support personnel for the army. Camp followers offer the public information & demonstrate non-military activities – sewing, cooking, spinning, blacksmithing, school master, & offer a different style interaction with the public. An excellent description of camp followers by John Rees is at Women Following the Army.Most units have a dining & cooking area to feed its members, however, it is often incorrectly re-created as attached to the unit. In the armies of the period, only one or two meals a day were issued from rations & prepared by mess groups of 5-6 soldiers. Women did not cook the daily rations for the soldiers. Mess groups used military style kitchens which are significantly different than what it seen at re-enactments.
Activities
The Regiment offers several types of activities to match the interests of the members:
Historical re-enactments & tactical games are open to all members of the Regiment who are current members with the Ethan Allen Long Rifles. Historical re-enactments are typically scripted battles & are showcases for the Regiment. The script may or may not be historically accurate, but usually designed to provide the public a feel for the training, tactics, uniform, accoutrements, and organization of 18th Century military life.
Tactical games are usually significantly less scripted & away from public viewing, allowing the participants more free play and creativity. While the formations & tactics are correct for the period, there is no predetermined course of the battle, allowing the re-enactors to use their 18th century tactical skills to their fullest to win the game.
Treks are open to all members of the Regiment. These events are a means of experimenting with the equipment & living skills of the period in more primitive & realistic conditions than at historical re-enactments.
